House prices in Sweden vary considerably. If you look at the “real estate” section of our website, you will see that house prices in Sweden are considerably lower than in the Netherlands and other Western European Countries. However, if you buy a property in large cities such as Stockholm and Gothenburg, you will pay as much for a property as you would in an average large city elsewhere in Western Europe. Incidentally, house prices in Sweden have risen significantly over the last few years.
So what makes the differences in this country so big? The vast majority of economic activity takes place in and around the major cities, and that determines house prices. The countryside has little to offer in economic terms. However, the countryside does offer a very attractive living environment: genuine peace and quiet, plenty of space, clean air, no parking or traffic problems, honest people and unspoilt nature. In other words, it is an ideal place for a holiday home, especially an affordable one. But the countryside also has a lot to offer those who want to emigrate to Sweden.
Sweden is enjoying rapidly growing popularity when it comes to buying a second home. The economic crisis that ravaged the world from 2009 to 2014 has done little to change this. As a result of this explosive growth, prices have risen significantly. Houses on lakes or by the sea in particular have become considerably more expensive. The same applies to houses in wooded areas, which, despite their remote location, still have good amenities.
Another consequence of this growth in the housing market is that houses are often sold very quickly, sometimes within a week. If you know that you will not be able to travel to Sweden within a week, don’t get your hopes up too high about a particular house that you really like. You may well be very disappointed. And bear in mind that with these types of houses, an offer below the asking price will often stand little chance of being accepted. In that sense, the housing market in Sweden is currently very similar to the overheated market in the Netherlands.
Unfortunately, Swedish banks are very reluctant to grant mortgages to non-Swedes. Keep in mind that you will have to pay for the property yourself, without any help from a bank.
When we enter into negotiations with a real estate agent in the Netherlands, we offer a price that is often lower than the asking price. From the moment we have made an offer, the seller is not allowed to negotiate with another potential buyer until the negotiations with the first buyer have been fully concluded. Bidding against each other is therefore not an option in the Netherlands and the same applies to many other Western European countries.
How different it is in Sweden. While you are negotiating with the seller, another buyer appears on the scene and makes an offer while you are still negotiating. If you do not make a higher offer, the negotiations with you are immediately terminated. In this way, a house is often sold above the asking price, which has also become common in the Netherlands in recent years. The Swedish estate agent represents the interests of the seller and will make little effort to treat you, as a foreign buyer, differently from Swedish customers. If necessary, you will be sidelined at the very last moment for 10,000 kronor. The fact that you have had to make a long journey from the Netherlands or Belgium or wherever is no argument for the estate agent to treat your offer with more respect.
The game is played hard and fast in Sweden. We are happy to assist you in this negotiation process. We will not always be able to successfully conclude the transaction, but thanks to our contacts with estate agents and our knowledge of the market, we may be better able to realise your dream within the margins you have set yourself.
When you buy a property, you need to take into account a number of additional costs, some of which are payable immediately upon purchase, while others are payable monthly or annually from the moment you become the owner. Here is a brief summary:
Costs upon purchase
Periodic recurring costs
Visit real estate websites in the Netherlands and you will find a series of attractive photos of every house, showing a tidy interior, a raked garden, well-camouflaged wear and tear, etc. In short, Dutch estate agents ensure that the house they are selling looks its best.
Do not expect a standard glossy photo presentation of a Swedish home. Grass up to the windows, an overturned garden chair, dirty dishes on the counter, clothes on a chair, the seller in the background, grandpa still sitting in his chair by the window—you can see it all. However, we have noticed that the presentations have improved over the past few years.
What you see is what you get is the motto in Sweden. No embellishment, no pretending to be something you are not. The buyer has an interest in the house, or they will walk away; that is the general attitude.
Don’t be put off by the austere or cluttered presentation. Painting, yes, that’s something you always have to take into account.
Hidden defects? Every purchase contract states that the seller remains liable for any unreported hidden defects for up to five years after transfer. A reliable Swedish estate agent will point out any defects to you. Nevertheless, as the buyer, you do have a detailed obligation to investigate, which means that you must have done everything in your power to critically inspect the property and report any defects found before purchase. If you are planning to do so, never buy a property without seeing it first. A good estate agent will categorically refuse an offer if you have not viewed the property yourself.
Sweden has no gas, so you will not find any houses heated by gas central heating systems. There is a central heating system, but the boiler is fuelled by oil, wood or electricity. A common fuel for the boilers is compressed wood pellets, which are delivered to homes in large bales or blown into a large reservoir. You will often find homes that are heated by geothermal energy: a system of pipes that criss-cross the entire garden (or a pipe several metres deep) and extract heat from the ground, which is then transformed into a temperature that can heat the home. Installing such a system is very expensive (approx. £15,000), but it pays for itself in the long run through significantly lower heating costs. A house that already has “bergvärme” (or “jordvärme”) is therefore worth approx. £15,000 more than a comparable house without this heating system. The investment therefore pays for itself. However, if you do not live there permanently, the payback period is likely to be too long.
Many kitchens still have an old-fashioned wood-burning stove that spreads a wonderful warmth throughout the room. Combined with an open fire in the living room, this provides practical and inexpensive heating for the living area.
Many houses also have electric heating panels on the walls in most rooms. These are an ideal source of heat, especially if you do not live in the house permanently. But beware: electric heating is expensive, especially in the cold winter months.
Larger towns and most villages have a reliable water supply network with very clean water. Outside these villages, there is a reasonable chance that the neighbourhood is not connected to the water supply network. In that case, the water supply is the responsibility of the homeowners. In some cases, there is a communal pump system that draws water from the ground or from a lake or river. This water is also very clean.
Houses often have their own well or spring from which water is drawn, sometimes in the old-fashioned way with a bucket, sometimes with a beautiful authentic pump. Here too, the water is of excellent quality. If the water is not of good quality, you can install a filter.
The same applies to sewerage. The smaller the neighbourhood, the greater the likelihood of private drainage, usually via a septic tank. Nowadays, a three-chamber system with infiltration (tre-kammarbrunn) is mandatory for separating waste. If a two-chamber tank is still in use, it will usually need to be replaced soon.
Since early 2006, analogue TV signals have been switched off in most of Sweden, and TV reception is now only possible via digital means.
Most large cities now have a fibre optic network for digital TV reception and internet, just like in the Netherlands. Outside the major cities, the fibre optic network is being rolled out, but in some places people still need their own satellite dish with a satellite receiver. It is also possible to receive Swedish public channels via an antenna connected to a local transmission tower. This requires the purchase of a one-off box (boxer), which costs around €95. It is important to check whether the existing antenna on the house is capable of receiving the boxer signal.
Some houses are equipped with a satellite dish, but please note: these are often relatively small dishes that mainly receive Canal Digital pay channels. If you want to receive Dutch or Belgian TV, you will need to install a dish with a larger diameter.
Sweden has a well-maintained and extensive road network, particularly in the south and around the major cities. In rural areas, there are fewer major roads. However, every hamlet and every house, no matter how remote, is accessible by public road.
However, in Sweden and Norway, you will encounter a phenomenon that is unknown in the Netherlands: the so-called “grusväg”. These are roads with a surface of gravel, sand and oil. They are excellent to drive on, provided you do not exceed 70 km per hour.
For us Dutch and Belgians, it can be a bit of a shock when an asphalt road suddenly turns into a grusväg. But you can rest assured that the signage will not lead you astray; you will arrive at your destination via a reliable road.
During the winter months, Scandinavia can experience heavy snowfall. All main roads are kept clear of snow, including most of the grusväg.
For some houses on this site, the information about winter accessibility states: “moderate”. These houses are located at the end of a road that is not intended for through traffic. Because the house in question is not registered as permanently inhabited, the municipality may not keep the road clear of snow.
PLEASE NOTE: you may fall in love with that beautiful cottage at the back with 50 metres of private road. A long driveway is wonderful, but bear in mind that you will have to clear the snow yourself.